title: [Clinical trial of IL-12 for cancer patients].
abstract: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine that stimulates T cells and NK cells. It induces interferon-gamma and plays a unique role in promoting type 1 T helper cell responses. In various animal models, IL-12 has shown a therapeutic effect controlling growth of primary and metastatic tumors at nontoxic doses. On the basis of these findings, IL-12 is now under clinical trial. Fever, flu-like, general fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, leukopenia, liver dysfunction and so on are the reported toxicities of IL-12. A dramatic decrease of IL-12 AUC after consecutive dosing of IL-12, production of IL-10 and temporal elevation of NK and LAK activities after IL-12 administration have also been observed. Several patients achieve PRs after the administration, but dramatic clinical responses have never been reported. Intensive research on the mechanisms of antitumor response of IL-12 in cancer patients should be very important to the successful development of IL-12 as an anti-cancer agent.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Heike
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saijo
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018664:Interleukin-12